Chapter 48: A Storm Approaches

A bed, a bookshelf, and a desk—inside the modest room, indistinguishable from those of ordinary people, dimly lit by a desk lamp, the figure of Wang Ji appeared, eyes closed in meditation.

This time, he had won seven thousand five hundred crystal cores in a wager, and with a generous hand, converted five thousand of them into energy, gaining over thirteen thousand points. Unexpectedly, the X System notified him of new permissions unlocked. This round of unlocking offered more choices for weaponry and research. Thus, Wang Ji had arranged early for the next day's shooting competition, and after returning to his dormitory, immersed himself in the X System.

[Commander has gained a balance of over ten thousand energy points, unlocking Second Lieutenant-level permissions…]
[Unlocking the primary vehicle production line…]
[Unlocking the Universal Research Center; the Commander may consume energy points to conduct related technological upgrades…]

Among the unlocked items, Wang Ji valued most the intermediate enhancement capsule. His physical attributes had stagnated ever since breaking through the first-level gene lock. Though he trained daily, apart from his mental strength—which kept improving thanks to a fortunate discovery—his power and agility had shown no progress. The arrival of the intermediate capsule marked a new leap in his strength, and also signaled the imminent collective breakthrough for his squad.

Suppressing his excitement, Wang Ji carefully examined the data on the intermediate capsule.

[Intermediate Strength Capsule: Requires 1000 energy points to materialize, materialization time 10 minutes, must have a strength value above 20 to use, significantly increases strength value; as user’s tolerance increases, the effect diminishes, not recommended for repeated use. Note: The little pill every true man needs!]
[Intermediate Mental Capsule: Requires 1000 energy points to materialize, materialization time 10 minutes, must have a mental value above 20 to use, significantly increases mental value; as user’s tolerance increases, the effect diminishes, not recommended for repeated use. Note: Mental patients wish for one every day!]
[Intermediate Agility Capsule: Requires 1000 energy points to materialize, materialization time 10 minutes, must have an agility value above 20 to use, significantly increases agility value; as user’s tolerance increases, the effect diminishes, not recommended for repeated use. Note: The farther your thoughts travel, the faster you become!]

A thousand energy points! The materialization requirement for the intermediate capsule was a hundred times that of the basic one. Did this mean the advanced capsule would require a hundred thousand points for just one? Wang Ji cursed under his breath, smiled wryly, and materialized three capsules.

He swallowed the three capsules, each slightly larger than the basic ones, and quietly waited for their effects to unfold. Soon, a familiar warmth spread from his abdomen throughout his body, and a cool stream lingered in his mind, nurturing his mental faculties.

After a long while, Wang Ji opened his eyes; in their depths, there seemed to be a soul-piercing brilliance.

“Excellent! It’s been so long since I felt my strength grow!”

Host: Wang Ji
Title: Novice Butcher
Level: Level 1 Warrior
Strength: 55
Mental: 70
Agility: 50
Stamina: 100/100
Status: Excellent
Progression: Level 1 Gene Lock Unlocked
Energy Points: 11,275

Seeing the significant improvement in his stats, Wang Ji sighed with satisfaction—not a wasted investment of three thousand energy points!

“Could it be that the capsule’s enhancement is based on the user’s physical foundation?” he wondered to himself, comparing the scene when Mouse and Yan Song took the basic capsules.

“It must be so. After nearly three months of training, Mouse and Yan Song’s physical potential was being unlocked, much greater than mine at the beginning. That’s why their improvements were more pronounced!” Wang Ji quickly processed this past data, arriving at a more precise conclusion.

He suddenly recalled Mouse, still bedridden and recovering, and the promise he’d made to reward him upon recovery. Wang Ji smiled, materialized an intermediate strength capsule, and placed it on the side table.

“Let’s hope Mouse isn’t too shocked when he wakes up!” he thought, amused, then continued examining the newly unlocked items.

“Primary vehicle production line, three thousand energy points. Not bad, this should go on the schedule.”
“Research center? Perfect, just what I needed—the beginning of weapon modification. Here I come!”

It was a sleepless night; the light in Wang Ji’s room remained on throughout. At the entire campsite, few could sleep. Most who had bet on Cao Muhua’s victory lost everything, tossing and turning in regret. Conversely, those who had bet on Wang Ji, clutching the crystal cores won at several times the odds, watched over their wealth with excitement and caution, pondering how to spend this windfall.

In the military district office, Chen Yukai and Lin Hanya sat across from each other, faces etched with worry.

“Uncle Chen, do we really have to move against Cao Muhua? Why not wait a little longer? Maybe Sheng will bring good news from the Jiangbei Military District soon,” Lin Hanya said, her brows knit with concern.

Chen Yukai was silent for a long time before finally speaking in a hoarse voice. “Cao Muhua is ambitious, even associating with the IAG organization. Whatever they plan in my base, I will not allow it!”

“But I fear we lack the strength to root out the IAG members hiding in the base!” Lin Hanya bit her lip, voicing her concern. She had always detested the infamous experiments of the IAG.

“What do you think of Wang Ji?” Chen Yukai asked in return.

Lin Hanya shook her head slightly, then nodded. “Wang Ji is very mysterious. I can’t see through him, nor do I know his origins. But…” she nodded, certain, “I believe he’s a good man!”

Chen Yukai managed a rare smile. “A good man? Hanya, in these times, being called a ‘good man’ is not necessarily a compliment.”

Lin Hanya laughed awkwardly. “Uncle Chen, I meant his actions are good. At least, under his management, the West District has changed the most.”

“You’ve seen it—the market tax rate is lowest, sanitation, security, mortality rate, all are best in the base. And all because of Wang Ji. That’s why I think he’s a good man.”

Chen Yukai smiled, gratified that he had judged correctly. “All right, let’s consider him a trustworthy good man.” After a pause, he put out his cigarette, his expression complex. “If the campsite truly comes to its end, I’d choose Wang Ji to inherit it!”

“Uncle Chen, why are you always so pessimistic? Think positive—Sheng might return soon!” Lin Hanya chided.

Chen Yukai rubbed his brow awkwardly. “Fine, fine. Let’s focus on how to unite with Wang Ji and uproot the IAG cancer from the base!”

Under the lights of the sleepless night, uncle and niece discussed plans deep into the night.

Far away, in front of a massive base over a thousand kilometers distant, a rare tranquility settled in the darkness. Suddenly, several shadows darted from the night, rushing to the gate’s lights.

“Who goes there! Stop, or we’ll open fire!”

Several gun barrels protruded from the wall, trained on the figures by the gate.

“Wait! We’re from the F City Military District!” The soldiers on the wall saw several grimy men in military uniforms and lowered their guns.

“Hold on, we need to report.”

“All right, thanks, brothers! My name is Wang Yongsheng, from F City Military District, 05th Battalion. Please notify your commander—I have urgent military news to report!” The lead figure, his dirty face showing exhaustion, shivered as the cold wind blew and muttered at the gate, “Who’s thinking of me at this hour while I’m not sleeping?”

To the southwest, after a long journey, Lisa and the Fat Man arrived at a hidden base in the valley, bringing Wu Gang’s report. Soon, they were summoned by the mysterious woman in a leather jacket. That night, several modified military jeeps carrying elite fighters slipped out of the base under cover of darkness; in the lead vehicle sat the red-haired woman, playing with her curved dagger.

Dozens of kilometers outside the Jiangbei Military District, in an ancient village, the night was eerily silent and deserted. Suddenly, a hurried man stepped out of a house. Clad in a gray robe, his face hidden under a hood, only the circular emblem resembling an I-beam on his back indicated his affiliation with the IAG organization.

He entered another house, knocked softly, and after exchanging passwords with an alert pair of eyes, slipped inside. At a wooden bed, he lifted the boards to reveal a high-tech control panel, utterly out of place in the old village. He quickly entered a code, checked the living subject, then climbed into a metal coffin-like box. After a few seconds, the box trembled and moved swiftly across the floor. Nearly a minute later, he emerged from the box, greeted by a vast underground research facility, its halls filled with gray-robed figures.

From a nearby lab came chilling screams; within strange tanks floated various biological forms. Some were the corpses of giant mutant beasts—if Wang Ji were present, he’d be shocked to recognize them as the corpses of high-level mutant leaders bearing third-level crystal cores.

The man exited the metal box and hurried toward a room marked with a large IAG emblem. After gaining entrance, he stepped into the circular conference hall’s center and stood respectfully on the glowing white platform.

“Honorable Lords! The Inspector Saint has sent urgent intelligence—suspected complete gene enhancement capsules have been found in F City!”

His words prompted murmurs from the heights above. After a moment, a voice boomed from the central seat—Cang Long’s.

“Investigate at all costs!”

In an instant, winds began to stir; hidden powers everywhere focused their sights on this southern corner of the world.